International Antarctic Institute Available Units and Courses

The International Antarctic Institute offers international opportunities in Antarctic undergraduate and postgraduate multi-disciplinary education by sharing teaching resources between international partner universities. We also plan to develop new and innovative Antarctic courses and pathways between degrees to encourage student and staff mobility.

Current Courses Listed Below. 

Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies, University of Tasmania

Masters of Antarctic Science
The Masters of Antarctic Science is a specialised master degree course in polar marine biology. It provides students with advanced instruction and training in emerging approaches and technologies in marine biology. The course is designed to produce expertly trained scientists with international experience and skills in research and its application to areas of Antarctic marine science. MAntSc students will develop an understanding of the role the Southern Ocean and Antarctic marine ecosystem plays in the global climate system. Within this MAntSc students are able to cross-credit study programs and may choose to take electives available at one of our 20 IAI partner universities and/or undertake their research project associated with expertise available through the IAI consortium.

Hamilton College

Antarctica and Global Change: A Marine Geologic Perspective
Review of the geology, meteorology, oceanography, marine biology and glaciology of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean and their influence on global environmental processes and change. Emphasis on remote sensing and marine geology methods. Offered as part of Hamilton College’s participation in the International Antarctic Institute. One-half course credit..

Field Studies in Antarctica
A marine geologic survey along the Antarctic Peninsula that involves a research-oriented learning environment with oceanographic and bottom sediment sampling.  Limited enrolment and consent of instructor. Limited to those participating in NSF-funded research expedition to Antarctica.

Gondwana Geology and Tasmanian Field Studies
A two-week field excursion to the island state of Australia with a focus on the geology, botany and natural history of the ancient continent of Gondwana and Tasmania. Field work will emphasize geology of the southern continents, economic resources and wilderness conservation. Extra cost. One half-credit. Prerequisite, Principles of Geoscience. Offered as part of Hamilton College’s participation in the International Antarctic Institute.

Hokkaido University

Special Lecture on Antarctic Science I
Fifty years has passed since the first comprehensive Antarctic expeditions began. Cryosphere nowadays is changing and the observations have been revealed its rapid climate changes. Based on the outcomes of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expeditions, this course aims to describe the changing Antarctica and get a comprehensive knowledge of the global climate change and its impact on ecosystem.

Special Lecture on Antarctic Science II
Antarctic and Arctic regions are very sensitive to the changes in global climate conditions. Thus, studying the polar regions sheds light on the recent global scale climate changes. This lecture is offered by two leading scientists in the field of polar science invited from foreign institutes.

For the second semester, Andrew McMinn from University of Tasmania teaches polar biology and Heinz Blatter from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology teaches glacier and ice sheet science. Students will learn the most recent and important research topics in this scientific field. The lecture also gives students an opportunity to take a lecture in English and to communicate with foreign scientists.

Special Course on Antarctic Science I  (Glacier Field Course in Switzerland)
Glaciers and ice sheets are unique and very important components of cryospheric environment. For example, Antarctica is covered by more than 2000 m thick ice in average and this ice sheet has a potential to raise the sea level by about 60 m in the event of entire ice melting. Accordingly, it is crucial to study glaciers and ice sheets to understand global environment in the past and future. Although the course programs focus on glaciers, it is also beneficial to the students who are going to work on any field of cryosphere science. The course provides the opportunity to work on alpine glaciers in the Swiss Alps, to visit research institutions in Switzerland, and to take lectures offered by leading scientists in the field of cryosphere science. 

Special Course on Antarctic Science II (Sea Ice Field Course in Saroma Lagoon/Okhotsk Sea)
The Okhotsk Sea is the southern end where the sea ice in the Northern Hemisphere exists. Through a field trip to the sites, where we can access to landfast ice and pack ice, and a series of short lectures at a seminar house, this course aims to get a comprehensive experience and understanding of the physical and biological aspects of sea ice.

Special Course on Antarctic Science III
Working in the field for scientific measurements is one of the most important and exciting research activities in cryosphere science. Because of the remote and harsh environment, however, it requires special skills, equipment and experiences. For example, knowledge of crevasses and avalanches and skills of rescuing in the case of accident are crucial to work on glaciers. This field course aims to provide the opportunity to learn skills required for the activities in cryosperic environment, such as glaciers, sea ice and high mountains. The program is offered by a professional mountain guide who also has experiences of scientific field research on glaciers. The course consists of weekly lectures in the school and two field trips to mountains in Sapporo.

University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand-Gateway Antarctica

Master of Antarctic Studies
The primary aim of the programme is to foster the interdisciplinary study of Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean, to stimulate an interest in research in Antarctic Studies by New Zealand and international students, and to enable the student to carry out individual research.  
The Masters Programme consists of two parts equivalent to two academic years for full time students.  

PART 1. Full time students undertake two compulsory core units in Antarctic Studies (ANTA 401 and ANTA402) equivalent to 0.5 course weight in the first year.
ANTA 401 Antarctic Global Connections (Whole year) A discussion of the current and future issues surrounding Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and their global relevance.
ANTA 402 Antarctic Legal System (Semester 1) An examination of the international legal system that governs Antarctica.
As well as the above two compulsory units, students will in their first year undertake existing university units (equivalent to 0.5 course weight) within their specialist area of interest to continue to develop their own specialist skills within their proposed discipline. The Postgraduate Diploma is equivalent to Part 1 of the Masters Degree.

PART 2. In the second academic year (Part 2),  full time students will complete a thesis on an Antarctic related topic.  In some but not all cases this will be based on research carried out in Antarctica as a component of Part 2.  
ANTA 690    Antarctic Studies Masters Thesis        
This is the thesis component of the Master of Antarctic studies.  It provides the opportunity for graduate students to engage in specialised research areas related to Antarctica.  Approval of topics is subject to approval by the course coordinator and suitable provision for academic supervision.  The thesis will be in keeping with standard university regulations.  Whilst originality of contribution is not essential, its presence is appreciated.

Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
The Graduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies (GCAS) is a fourteen week, in-depth study of the history, science, political discourse, environmental concerns and future challenges of the frozen continent and surrounding seas.  The course is coordinated by Gateway Antarctica, the Centre for Antarctic Studies and Research at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch, New Zealand.  It was developed in 1998 jointly by the University of Canterbury and Antarctica New Zealand with significant input from government agencies and the wider national and international community.  The multidisciplinary perspective along with the broad-based critique of the issues that Antarctica faces, and the 10 day Antarctic field course have resulted in a course that is unique in its focus.

The aim of GCAS is to provide a contextual programme of study for graduates and members of the professions who have an interest in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. It provides an ideal course for members of national Antarctic programs who want to understand better the current issues and legal framework surrounding Antarctica, and experience first hand living and working in Antarctica.

Universidad de Magallanes, Chile

Diploma in Antarctic Programs
The Diploma is structured on two lines of teaching: a theoretical component and a series of applied workshops. The program completion will be by approving the course work and the thesis defense. Theoretical coursework includes a series of topics needed to understand past, present and future human activity in the Antarctic. These modules include: Antarctic History and Geography, Antarctic Tourism, the Antarctic Treaty System and Antarctic Ecology and Safety in Maritime and Aerial Operations in Antarctic.